I am not certain I know the answers on these, but I do know how Salisbury Steak got it’s name. At least, I once heard a story about it, and it sounded authentic.
So, here it is: Sometime during WW2, there was an important government official traveling by train from Washington, through North Carolina, to some destination further south.
That was when trains were a major means of transportation. He held a very important office, and had a stateroom reserved just for himself. The solitude of his stateroom provided the privacy necessary to work on important government matters.
He worked long into the night, missing the evening meal served all the other passengers in the dining car.
Late that night, after completing his work, he called the Conductor and asked if he might have something to eat. The Conductor, knowing the status of this individual, said he would see what he could arrange (even though he knew the galley had been closed for hours and the cook retired).
But, he aroused the cook and explained the situation. The cook responded that there was nothing left in the galley, as all the food had been consumed during the evening meal. This was an unusual situation, but there was just nothing to be had. The Conductor asked if he would please take another look and see if there was anything that could be presented to the official.
The cook searched the refrigerator and found a few scraps of meat, a small sprig of celery, half an onion, and some other vegetable. Upon thorough investigation, the pantry yielded a few other ingredients. These were mixed, along with a little seasoning. And, in a little while a rather respectable, although small, repast was assembled and served to the official.
The next morning the official took breakfast in the dining car and, upon completion, sought out the cook to thank him for the delicious meal that had been prepared for him late the night before.
“And, by the way,” he asked, “what do you call that delicious meat patty I was served?”
The cook, not wanting to reveal it was made up of some scraps of this and that he found in the galley, began groping for an explanation. At that very moment he looked out the window as they were entering Salisbury, NC and said, “Why, that was a Salisbury Steak, sir.”
Well, at least, that’s my version of the story I heard years ago. And, I’m stickin’ to it.
Fred Eargle is retired from the School of Engineering at NC State University, where he taught, conducted workshops and seminars on quality, job evaluation, industrial engineering, and human relations. He currently writes and consults.
To see more of Fred Eargle's writings - go to www.lulu.com ansearch for Eargle. There you will find a book of 73 stories "The FERD Files," plus other of his writings. It is a collection of stories he has written overthe course of several years. They cover the nearly 50 years he was associated with NC State University, both as a student and later as faculty. A few relate to his early years growing up in Tryon, NC.
Mr. Eargle currently lives at Windsor Point, Fuquay-Varina, with his wife.
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